Youth Association

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom. One Generation will command your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts . – Psalm 145: 3,4 .

Bishop inaugurating the Cortalam Camp

Tirunelveli Diocesan Youth Association was established on 9th November 1948. Youth Organizations in each pastorate were doing marvelous work in the pastorates. Bishop Selwyn and other pioneers who worked among the youth felt the need for having a central youth Mission in the Diocese. The result of this vision was the formation of Tirunelveli Diocese Youth Association. Mr. D.S. George Muller ( St. John’s College, Palayamkottai) was the first Secretary. Following him many dedicated and committed secretaries worked for the spiritual and social welfare of the young people.

Rt. Rev. Selwyn, Rt. Rev. Jebaraj, Rt. Rev. Thomas Garrett, Rt. Rev. Daniel Abraham, Rt. Rev. Jason S. Dharmaraj and Rt. Rev. Dr S Jeyapaul David have worked as the Chairman of this Association. At present the Bishop Rt. Rev. J J Christdoss is the Chairman and Rev. I Samuel Prakash is the Secretary and the Director.

Blind youth singing at Synod level meeting

The first standing committee resolved to conduct boys’ and girls’ high school camps centrally. The committee also decided to conduct a youth conference annually. In 1950 the first conference was held at Palayamkottai from 27th May to 30th May. Since then the conference is being conducted successfully that enabled the youth in the churches and in the institution to read their Bible daily intelligently and devotionally as the word of God. Bishops have encouraged the clergies to establish the youth organization in their own pastorates.

To encourage our youth to become the members of the organization , admission services were conducted and membership cards with the emblem were distributed. Youth supplements were printed in the diocese Magazines and circulated among the youth.

At a Diocese level meeting

The main objectives of the Youth Association are as follows:

Each Church should have one youth group (unit)

Young people above 13 years of age should be admitted.

Members must be led to be personal witnesses to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Youth should be enabled to be useful to the Churches

In every church youth are encouraged in the areas of evangelistic work and social work such as Sunday Schools and Adult Education. Secretary regularly visits the High Schools and Training Schools and encourages the youth spiritually. High School Camps for both boys and girls are conducted with the help of YFC, YMCA and SCM. Illaignar Nanban, a youth

After winning inter-diocese volley ball tournament

Magazine is brought out to support the members. Exposure programmes are arranged for youth leaders and these enable the leaders to train themselves for this wonderful task. Leaders are motivated to attend the CSI conferences.

Youth Secretaries Conferences and YFC Camps. The heads of the institutions and secretaries of other youth organizations like YFC and YMCA support TDYA work and extend full cooperation.